Lighting fixture



April 24, 1934. SCHEPMOES 1,955,935

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Dec. 16, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY ATTORNEY April 24, 1934. L; SCHEPMOES LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Dec. 16. 1931 4 She e ts-Sheet 3 -walla I I I I I I 0 April 24, 1934.

.L. scHEPMoEs LIGHTING FIXTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 16, 1931 QM mm m: m wm E N m T T A Y B Patented -Apr. 24, 1934 PATENT, OFFICE LIGHTING FIXTURE Lindsley Schepmoes, New Haven, Conn.', aasignor to The Safety Car Heating & Lighting Company, a. corporation of New Jersey Application December 16, 1931, Serial No. 581,403

12 Claims.

This invention relates to lighting apparatus.

One of the Objects of this invention is to provide a lighting apparatus which will be simple, practical and thoroughly durable. Another obr 5- jectis to provide an apparatus of the above nature which, while producing 'novel ornamental effects" during operation, also acts as a highly effic'ient light emitting medium. Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above nature of ready and inexpensive-manufacture and capable of easy and fool-proof installation. ,An-

other object is to provide an apparatus'of the above nature in which the light emitting members may be so distributed as to effect a maximum of light efliciency while avoiding a disagreeable concentration'at any one point, thus to alleviate glare and like inconveniences in an effective manner. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements,- and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown several possible embodiments of this invention, g

Figure 1 is an isometric viewof the corner formed by two adjoining walls and the ceiling of a room, both of the walls and the ceiling having my-apparatus installed thereon;

Figure 2 is asectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 22 of-Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure '1, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is an isometric view, partly in section, of a section of a wall with another embodiment of my invention mounted thereon;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the corner formed by two walls and a ceiling of a room, the ceiling'having apparatus forming another em-- bodiment of my invention mounted thereon, and

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of some of the parts shown in Figure 7. a

Similar reference characters refer to'similar ings. I

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, there are shown two adjoining walls 10 and 11 joined by a ceiling 12. Thus, walls 10 and 11. and

parts throughout the several views of the drawceiling 12 form a corner in three planes. Mounted upon or secured to the wall 10 and preferably substantially adjoining wall 11, is a frame 13 having mounted therein a reflecting member 14, preferably of the specular type. Similarly, I provide a frame 15 adjoining wall 10 and ceiling 12 on wall 11 and carrying a reflecting member 16 similar in character to reflecting member 14. Upon the ceiling 12 I prefer to secure a frame 17 adjoining walls 10 and 11 and consequently shaped to fit about a reflecting member 18 similar in character to reflecting members 14 and 16. Extending'from the surfaces of reflecting members 14, 16 and 18 are elongated luminaires 19,

20 and 21 respectively, the exact nature of which will bedescribed more fully'hereinafter.

' Reflecting members 14, 16 and 18 may be of any desired character, although I prefer to'employ a reflector carrying the reflecting surface upon the front side thereof, as distinguished from an ordinary mirror that is formed of transparent material and carrying the reflecting surface on the rear side thereof. Thus I may form these reflecting members from a highly polished metal such as chrome-plated sheet metal, having found such metal highly desirable for such use. Although certain inherent disadvantages result from the use of a common mirrorsuch as that described above for these reflecting members, it is, of course, possible to use such a mirror in so far as certain broader aspects of my invention are concerned.

Still referring to Figure 1, frame 13 together with reflecting member 14 extends over a longitudinally extending recess 22 in wall 10. Similarly, frame 15 with reflecting member 16 and framel'l with reflecting member 18 extend over longitudinal recesses 23 and 24 in wall 11 and ceiling 12 respectively. Within recesses 22, 23 and 24 I install suitable light emitting apparatus. the nature of which will be described more fully hereinafter.

In this instance I prefer to form luminaires 19, 20 and 21 of individual sections held in abutting arrangement by band members generally indicated at 25. These sections of the luminaires may be formed of any translucent light-emitting material, although I prefer to employ translucent glass or other non-yieldable-substance as distinguished from a yieldable translucent material, an example of which is a synthetic resin or 1 the like. Such yieldable materials maybe used under certain circumstances, although I have found translucent glass highly desirable for 'this' purpose. Turning to Figure 2, luminaire 19 comprises sections 26 and 27, these sections being substantially U-shaped in cross-section and having their open sides of greater breadth than the width of an opening 28 in reflecting member 14 (Figure 1) Thus, sections such as 26 and 2'7 overlap opening 28 and, when abutted one with the other, form thecontinuous luminaire 19. Band members 25 extend about the junctions of the individual sections of luminaire 19. Although members 25 may take any convenient form, their inner shape con forms substantially to the periphery of luminaire 19 (Figure 3), and at the oppositeends thereof I provide feet 29 (Figure 1) therefor resting against the surface of reflecting member 14. Also, the tops of these members have extensions 30 extending in opposite longitudinal directions over the surface of luminaire 19.

For the junction of the comer of luminaire 19, section 26 and a section 32 of luminaire 19 are cut at an angle one to another, so that, when joined, they form substantially a right angle, and a band member 33 extends about this junction to hold sections 26 and 32 in this position. Band member 33 has feet 34 and extensions 35 similar in function and operation to feet 29 and extensions 30 of band members 25, although shaped differently to conform to the corner of luminaire 19.

Referring to Figure 3, suitable screws 36, or the like, extend through feet 29 of band members 25, and, as more clearly shown in Figure 1, suitable screws 37 extend through feet 34 of band member 33, screws 36 and 37 being preferably threaded into or otherwise connected to reflecting member 14. Thus, the individual sections 26, 27 and 32 (Figures land 2), which comprise luminaire 19, are held in abutting relation, overlapping opening 28 in reflecting member 14 and, as band members 25 and 33 cover the junctions of the individual sections, the impression created is that luminaire 19 is a continuous longitudinal body held against reflecting member 14. Inasmuch as the construction of luminaires 20 and 21 is substantially identical to the construction of luminaire 19, which has been described in detail, a detailed explanation of these parts will be omitted.

As more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, a casing 38 is mounted within recess 22 of wall 10 and is preferably secured to the base of the recess by screws 39 extending through projections 40 on the base of the casing and thence threaded into the wall. Casing 38 is substantially channel shaped-and may comprise individual sections se cured within recess 22 or one long section secured therein in a similar manner. Mounted upon the base of casing 38 is a reflector 41' preferably secured thereto by a suitable rivet 42. Reflector 41 is suitably shaped or curved in cross-section and carries its reflecting surface opposite opening 28 in reflecting member 14. As more clearly shown in Figure 2, reflector 41 is shaped to form a right angle corner substantially at the junction or corner of luminairelQ in order to follow opening 28. Accordingly, when light-emitting apparatus is positioned above reflector 41 and beneath luminaire 19, light emitted therefrom passes through the-luminaire and also light reflected from reflector 41 follows a similar course.

In this instance, in order to provide suitable illumination for luminaires 19, 20 and 21, I prefer to use glow tube constructions generally indicated at43, 44 and 45, as more clearly shown in Figure 1. The construction of these parts being substantially identical, only one glow tube 43 will be described in detail. Suitably secured to a side 46 (Figure 3) of casing 38, as, for example, by rivets 47, is a bracket-like member 48 having its exterior end 49 suitably shaped to act as a bed for glowtube 43. Opposite portion 49 of member 48 is a part 50 substantially identical in shape to portion 49, thus to extend about the opposite side of glow tube 43 and being held in this position preferably by a bolt and nut 51. Members similar to member 48 are distributed along'the interior of casing 38 thus to hold glow tube 43 substantially above the central portion of reflector 41 and near the center of opening 28 in reflecting member 14.

Tube 43 may be of common glass construction containing a suitable gas such as, for example, neon, which becomes luminous when a suitable potential is applied to suitable electrodes at the posite ends 52 and 53 of tube 43 areconnected to suitable insulated conductors 54 and 55, these conductors passing from the casing and recess 22 to be connected in turn to a suitable source of potential. Glow or gaseous conduction tube 43 extends substantially along the entire length of luininaire 19, and, when conductors 54 and 55 are connected to such a source of potential, they act as illuminators for luminaire 19, reflector 41 acting to intensify this illumination.

Glow tubes 44 and 45 may be mounted behind luminaires 20 and 21 respectively in a manner substantially similar to that described above with reference to glow tube 43 and suitable conductors connecting the ends thereof (not shown) may be connected to the same source of potential.

Depending upon the nature of the gaseous content of the glow tubes, various colors may be:

,achieved and thus also .various color contrasts, eflects, or modifications achieved in coaction with the luminaires.

When luminaires 19, 20 and 21 are illuminated The result achieved by this image is the impression that luminaire 19 is a continuous symmetrical body suspended in a space (reflecting member 14) by band members 25 and 33. Images A in reflecting members 16 and 18* give a like impression.

When luminaires 20 and 21 are mounted 1 upon the walls of a room for an example in the manner shown in Figure 1, they give the appearance of the tube-like fixtures, and, when lighted they combine with'images A to give the impression that continuous light-emitting tubes or the like are suspended about the walls and ceiling in recesses or spaces. Aside rom, the fact that the ornamental effect 'creat d by this action is marked, it is also true that the lighting efiiciency of the fixture is increased, for light cast off to the side into reflecting members14, 16 and. 18 to form images A is .added to the light given from the fixture directly to intensify the total amount of light emitted by the fixture.

Turning now to another embodiment ofmy invention, there is shown in Figure 4, a wall 56' having a longitudinal recess 5'7 formed there ure 6) for illuminating luminaire 61.

in, over which is mounted a reflecting member 58 preferably so, positioned within a frame 59. Reflecting member 58 has a continuous opening 60 extending therethrough and shaped to correspond to the shape of a continuous translucent luminaire generally indicated at 61.

Reflecting member '58 is preferably of a similarv character to reflecting member 14 (Figure 1). described above. In this instance, I prefer to form luminaire 61 of individual sections as, for example, sections62, 63 and 64. These sections are preferably formed from a yieldable transparent or translucent material as, for example, a synthetic resin. Inasmuch as the individual sections are similar in construction, one will be described in detail. a

Section 64 is substantially U-shap'ed incrosssectlon, the outer surface of the open end thereof being preferably equal to the width of opening 60. Formed upon the opposite edges of the open end of section 64 are flanges 65 and 66 (Figures 4 and 5) extending outwardly therefrom to overlap the under side of reflecting member 58. Although section 64 may take any convenient form, I prefer to shape it so that it has a reduced end 6'? formed to join with the reduced end 68 (Figure 1) of adjoining section 63. As more clearly shown in Figure 3, end 6'7 of section 64 is preferably slightly smaller in outer diameter than end 68 of section 63. More particularly, there is formed on end 67 and annular groove 69 adapted to interfit with end 68.

As described above, luminaire 61 is formed of a yieldable material. Thus, section 64 may be inserted in opening 60of reflecting member 58 by distorting it or forcing the opposite sides thereof toward each other until flanges 65 and 66 maybe passed through and fltted within the opening. At the same time, groove 69 in end 67 of. section 64 may be interfltted within end 68 of section 63, and, upon release of pressure, flanges 66 and 65 slide along the, under side of reflecting member 58 to hold the section in its operative position above opening 60. In this manner, the individual sections of luminaire 61 may be secured in their allotted positions along reflecting member 58 above recess 57 in wall 56 and, when so positioned, the impression created thereby is that a continuous longitudinally extending luminaire 61 is extending from reflecting member 58.

Suitably mounted in any convenient manner in recess 57 is a casing 70 (Figure 5), and I prefer to mount casing 70 therein by providing outwardly extending flanges '11 formed upon the upper ends of its opposite sides 72 and 73, as more clearly shown in Figure 5. Thus, flanges 71 may extend into plaster 74 forming a part of wall 56. Secured to the base of casing '70. is a reflector '75 preferably by way of rivets 76, this reflector being are shaped in cross-section and facing opening 60 in reflecting member 58.

In this instance, I prefer to employ incandescent bulbs as, for example, bulbs '17 and 78 (Fig- Thus, as more clearly shown in Figure 5, bulb 77 is positioned opposite opening 60 of reflecting member 58 and preferably extends outwardly therefrom into luminaire 61; a socket 79 being provided for this purpose. Socket '79 preferably has formed thereupon a U shaped member 80 extending from which is a screw 81 secured, to side 72 of casing 70 by nuts 82. Suitable conductors, generally indicated. at 83, are connected to terminals within socket 79 and thence pass out of casing 70, preferably through an insulator 84, to be connected to a suitable source of current.

When bulbs such as 'l'l and 78 are positioned in the abovedescribed manner opposite luminaire 61 and are connected to a suitable source of current, light emitted therefrom passes through luminaire 61, and also light reflected from reflector '75 follows a like course. An image B thence appears in reflecting member 58, this image being substantially identical in character to image A described above. Thus luminaire 61 together with image B gives the impression that the observer is seeing a complete, continuous symmetrical luminaire 61 suspended in a space (reflecting member 58) with no visible means of sup-, port. Inasmuch as luminaire 61 is continuous in character, as described'above, and may be carried 1 to anylength along a wall or a ceiling of a room, or the like, when so lighted, the impression created thereby is that a long tube of light is mental advantages of the preferred embodiment of my invention described above with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 are also present in this embodiment of my invention as well as the feature of increasing the total lightingefllciency of V the lighting fixture.

Turning now to Figure '7, there is shown another embodiment of my invention mounted upon a ceiling 85 adjoining two walls '86 and 87 of a room. Accordingly, extending longitudinally about the ceiling preferably substantially'near the junction between the ceiling and the two walls 86 and 87 there is provided a cavity 88. Extending across this cavity is a reflecting member 89 preferably secured in this position by frame members generally indicated at 90. Thus frame members 90 have a portion 91 extending over reflecting member 89 and a portion 92 lying flush against ceiling 85. frame members 90 and into ceiling 85 are a series of screws 93. Substantially opposite cavity 88 is an opening 94 in reflecting member 89 and extending therethrough is a luminaire generally indicated at 95.

Reflecting member'89 may be of any suitable character, although I prefer to provide a metallic reflecting surface such as-that described above with. reference to reflecting members 14, '16 and 18, and thus carrying its reflecting surface upon.

individual sections 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101 and 102;

These sections are preferably similar in shape and size and are adapted to lie flush against each other thus to present the appearance of a continuous pipe-likev luminaire 95. Furthermore, the individual sections comprisingluminaire'95 are of a widthsubstantially equal to the width of opening 94 so that they may fit snugly between the opposite sides of this opening. Each of the sections comprising luminaire 95, as, for example, section '96 has formed upon its opposite sides two outwardly extending flanges 103 and 104 (Figure 8). Accordingly, when section 96 is in position, flanges 103 and 104 overlap the inner edges of opening 96 in reflecting member 89, for cavity 88 in ceiling 85 is preferably wider than opening 94. When in the position shown in the drawings, the sections of luminaire lie flush against each other and by force of gravity are held so Extending through portion 92 of tion shown in full lines in Figure8. Due to the be inserted in a similar manner.

that their flanges 103 and 104 lieflush against the top side of the reflecting member 89.

Immediately above luminaire 95 and preferably within cavity 88- is a longitudinal reflector 105 preferably concave in shape and following opening 94. To hold reflector 105 in this position I provide a series of studs as, for example, stud 106 extending from and secured to the top of cavity 88 in a downward direction so that the reflector may be secured to its end by'a rivet or screw 107. Secured to the reflecting side of reflector 105 are a series of bracket members, as, for example, bracket member 108 to which are secured sockets similar to socket 109 holding a bulb 110. Bulb 110 may be any suitable incandescent bulb although I prefer to provide one of the type having an extra long body and filament. Suitable conductors 111 and 112 lead from each socket 109 to a suitable source of current.

Referring to Figure 8, when it becomes necessary to remove any of the sections comprising luminaire 95 as, for example, when repairs of any nature are desirable, the section may be pushed upwardly so. that one side thereof projects into cavity 88 until it assumes substantially the posi sloping sides 113 and 114 of the section, flange 103, for example, is moved in a right-hand direction, as viewed in the drawings, until it is free from the overlapping edge of luminaire 95. In this positionthe luminaire is free to drop or slide from the fixture and, when necessary, may By shaping the luminaire in this manner an economical means for installing and removing the luminaire is provided without the use of complicated parts and at the same time, while being reliably held in.

position, it may be removed with the greatest ease and convenience.

When current is applied through conductors 111 and 112 to the bulb 110, light passing through luminaire 95 is reflected in reflecting member 89 to form an image C in the reflecting surface of reflecting member 89. Image C has substantially the same characteristics as those described above with reference to images A and B, thus tending to create'the impression that luminaire 95 is suspended in a longitudinal space and is completely symmetrical. fects and lighting efficiency to be derived from the use of this apparatus, it will also be seen that this construction is of such a simple and reliable character that it may be installed at a minimum expense to insure reliable and emcient operation.

It will thus be .seen that I have provided a thoroughly practical and eflicient apparatus in which the several objects hereinbefore described as well as many others are successfully achieved.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the'above invention and as many changes might lation between and adjoining said first-men tioned means and said second-mentioned means Thus, besides the ornamental efand bridging the space existing therebetween,

' and lighting means positioned behind said lumilongitudinal light-emitting body, the walls of said luminaires adjoining both of said specular reflecting members whereby complementary images of portions of said luminaires I appear in both of said reflecting members when said lighting means is operating.

3. In lighting apparatus, in combination, a wall, a longitudinal channel formed in said wall, a

specular reflecting member secured to said wall and overlapping one longitudinal edge of said channel, a specular reflecting member secured to said wall and overlapping the opposite longitudinal edge of said channel, said specular reflecting members being spaced from each other, lighting means disposed within said channel, a series of translucent luminaires placed in end to end relation resting upon both' of said specular reflecting members and bridging the space therebetween, and a plurality of strip members overlapping the adjoining ends of said luminaires, each of said strip members being secured at its opposite ends to each of said specular reflecting members. 4. In lighting apparatus, in combination, a wall, a longitudinal channel formed in said wall, a specular reflecting member secured to said wall and overlapping one longitudinal edge of said channel, a specular reflecting member secured to said wall and overlapping the opposite longitudinal edge of said channel, said specular reflecting members being spaced from each other, lighting means disposed within said channel, and a series of translucent luminaires having flanges along their longitudinal sides, said luminaires being disposed between said specular reflecting members so that said flanges overlap the under side of said specular reflecting members, the ends of said luminaires being in overlapping relation, whereby complementary images of portions of said luminaires appear in both of said specular reflecting members when said lighting means is operating.

5. In lighting apparatus, in combination, a wall, a pair of reflecting members mounted in said wall and having their reflecting surfaces on the exposed sides thereof, said members being substantially spaced from one another, a series of translucent light-diflusing luminaires having open ends and disposed upon said reflecting members in end to end relation to bridge the space between said members, a plurality of band elements positioned over the adjoining ends of said lumina res to hold said luminaires in position, and illuminating means disposed behind said luminaires and concealed from view whereby upon operation of said illuminating means an illusion of a symmetrical continuing luminous body iscreated by the reflection of portions of said luminaires in said reflecting members. 6. In lighting apparatus, in combination,, a

wall, a pair of reflecting members mounted in said wall and having their reflecting surfaces on the exposed side thereof, said reflecting members being spaced from one another, a series of translucent light-difiusing luminaires disposed between and in flanged engagement with said reflecting members, said luminaires having frusto-ccnical open end portions positioned in interfitting end to end relation, and illuminating means positioned behind said luminaires and concealed from view whereby upon the operation of said illuminating means light is diflused through said luminaires giving the appearance of being diflused through said luminaires and complementary images thereof appearing in said reflecting members.

'7. In lighting apparatus, in combination, a wall, a pair of reflecting members mounted in said wall and having their reflecting surfaces on the exposed side thereof, said reflecting members being spaced from each other, a series of translucent light-diffusing luminaires disposed between i and in flanged engagement with said members,

said luminaires being in overlapping end to end relation and bridging the space between said reflecting members, and illuminating means positioned substantially behind said luminaires and concealed from view thereby, whereby upon operation of said illuminating means light is difiused through said luminaires to create the illusion of light being'diffused through said luminaires and images of portions thereof in said reflecting members thus to give the appearance of a longitudinal symmetrically continuous body suspended a space without. apparent means of support.

8. In lighting apparatus, in combination, a pair of specular reflecting members associated with a wall and substantially spaced from one another, a series of translucent light-diflusing luminaires secured to and substantially extending from said members and bridging the spacebetween said members, said members having their reflecting surfaces, on the exposed sides'thereof whereby the line of demarcation between said members and said luminaires is barely apparent and appears as part of the design of said luminaires, said luminaires having open ends and extending longitudinally along said reflecting members in end to end relation, and lighting means disposed behind and concealed by said luminaires whereby upon operation of'said lighting means light is diil'used through said luminaires andthe illusion is created of light being difiused by portions of said luminaires imaged in said reflecting members thus giving the appearance of a longitudinally extending continuously symmetrical luminous body suspended in space without apparentmeans of support.

'9. In lighting apparatus, in combination, a wall, a pair of specular reflecting members mounted in said wall and substantially spaced from each other, a series of translucent lightdifiusing luminaires having the form of one half of a light surrounding globe extending substantially from said members and bridging the space between them, lighting means behind said luminaires and positioned and arranged to direct some said luminaires, and reflecting elements behind of the light rays emanating therefrom toward ward said light-diffusing luminaires, said lighting means and said reflecting elements being disposed within said wall in such manner as to conceal said lighting means and said elements behind said reflecting members and said luminaires whereby an illuminating light is diffused through said luminaires while creating the illlusion of being difi'used through said luminaires and their complementary images.

.10. In lighting apparatus, in combination, a wall having a recessed portion of substantial longitudinal dimension therein, a channel element disposed within said portion equal in extent thereof and secured to a side thereof, said channel element having its free edges flush with the surface of said wall, a reflector member disposed within and secured to said channel, a specular reflecting member secured to said wall and overlapping part of said recessed portion in such a manner as to cover one of the said free edges of said channel element, a second specular reflecting member secured to said wall and overlapping another part of said recessed portion in such a manner as to cover the other of said free edges of said channel element, said specular members being substantially spaced from each other and extending substantially the length of said recessed portion, a series of translucent light difiusing luminaires of generally convex form secured to and projecting substantially from said specular members in end to end relation "and bridging the space therebetween, and lighting means disposed within said channel element between said reflector member and said luminaires whereby-upon emanation of light rays from said lighting means light is difl'used through said luminaires to create the illusion of a long luminous body suspended in space.

11. In lighting apparatus, in combinatio a wall having a longitudinal irecess therein, a pair of specular reflecting members secured to said wall and being spaced from each other over said recess, a series of translucent luminaires secured to said reflecting members in end to end relation to bridge the space between said reflecting members, and lighting means positioned in said ing members in end to end relation and brid ing the space therebetween, reflecting means. positioned behind said luminaires, and lighting means disposed between said luminaires and said reflecting means, said reflecting means and said lighting means being concealed from view by said luminaires whereby upon operation of said lighting means images of portions of said luminaires appear in said reflecting members to create the illusion of a complete symmetrical body of considerable length suspended in a space.

LINDSLEY SCHEPMOES. 

